Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson, Fairy Tail, or any characters involved in this story. Rick Riordan, Hiro Mishima, and Kazuki Tanahashi own these characters.
Chapter 17: Old Enemies, New Friends
"PERCY YOU LITTLE BRAT GET BACK HERE!" a yell tears across the guild as the doors open. Percy, laughing his heart out, is being chased by an irate Laxus, wearing makeup that made him look like a clown, and Mirajane, who is only there to keep Percy alive. The Raijinshu and Elfman follow through the doors searching for Percy as they too have been pranked. Freed and Bickslow awoke to only to find themselves taped together while Evergreen was taped to Elfman. The entire guild roars in laughter as the mighty Raijinshu have fallen. But then they realize something. Percy had just pranked an S-Class wizard and his team. Terror fills their minds as the young prankster makes his way through the new guildhall and hides behind Makarov.
Laxus and Mira make their way to Makarov's office as Makarov, confused as to why Percy stormed into his office laughing, looked to the new arrivals. He took one good look at Laxus and fell over his chair laughing. "I assume it's this time of the year isn't it Percy?" Makarov asks while trying to pull himself together. Percy just has an evil look in his eyes as his smile widens, scaring the crap out of him. All of a sudden Percy stops as he senses someone coming. "Gramps there's someone who wishes to join the guild and funny thing is, she's familiar for some reason" Percy says. Laxus, still miffed about the makeup as he washes it off, jokes "Maybe the princess wants to move in with you." Mira and Makarov laugh as Percy begins to blush. "First off, she's a princess who spends her time learning how to rule a kingdom. Second, we only met once. Third, the person I'm talking about sounds familiar because I fought her before. I think it's that water mage that was with Phantom." Percy runs down the to the guildhall
Outside the Fairy Tail Guild
Juvia takes a deep breath as she pushes the doors open. She assures herself that they will accept her, just as Lucy and her beloved did. But the wounds that Phantom inflicted upon Fairy Tail might be too deep. Silence greets her as she walks into the guild, no one showing any emotions. Then all of a sudden a young boy runs up to her. "Hey there rain girl what bring you to Fairy Tail" he asks with a bright smile on his face. Juvia looks down at the boy and tries to figure out where she has seen him before when all of a sudden he hugs her "Thanks for healing me back then" he says forcing her to recall the boy she fought and later healed after she saw him get burned. She hugs him back just as fiercely happy to see him back on his feet.
Makarov walks down to greet the young girl who was hugging Percy. "Greetings Juvia Lockser, what brings you to Fairy Tail?" Juvia stands up letting Percy go. "I wish to become a member of the Fairy Tail guild" she declares without hesitation, sending everyone but Percy, Makarov, and Laxus in shock. Makarov studies the girl's eyes and can see how much she desires to be here. "Mira, get the stamp, and let us welcome our newest member to our family" Makarov says with a smile. Mira grabs the stamp and asks the girl where she wants it.
Later in Makarov's office.
"I understand the pain my former guild had caused you may not be forgiven. I wish to make things right in order to push forward. I want you to know that I had encountered Erza and her team in Akane and helped them in the Tower of Heaven" Juvia explains as she details everything that happened in the Tower of Heaven fiasco to Makarov, Laxus, and Mirajane. They couldn't believe how much the girl did for their friends, and how much she is willing to do for them now.
"No apology is necessary, we've blamed Jose for the destruction that he has caused. However with you, there are several reasons why we're happy to have you. And the most important one of all was that you helped our youngest member when he needed help" Makarov assures the guilt-ridden girl that no apology is necessary.
Juvia takes a huge sigh of relief before asking, "Thank you for your kind words Master Makarov. But there is one thing I wish to ask of you. There is a friend of mine who is currently out of work and is struggling. He's a good friend and while he can be a bit rough he's also someone I've come to see as a brother. I know that he has done terrible things to the guild and its members. But I promise you he regrets his actions. I wish to ask you to bring in Gajeel into the guild."
Laxus studies the girl carefully. It was one thing with Juvia as she's helped out Erza and her team as well as healing Percy. Gajeel however was a different story. The man hurt Levy and her team and destroyed the guild. But he remembers that Gajeel is a true dragon slayer. According to Natsu, his dragon had been missing for the past seven years just like Igneel was. If that is so, then Gajeel could still be redeemed. He can see that Makarov intends to take him in as well so he says "Why not. Another dragon slayer will be useful. Might as well keep an eye on him"
Makarov agrees and heads to the exit, stating "Very well Juvia I will talk to Gajeel and convince him to join. He will have to make the choice however. And I will warn you that many people here haven't forgiven him for what he has done." He heads out to the guild and asks for Percy. Said boy ran up to his surrogate grandfather and asked "Whats up Gramps?" Makarov replies, "I'm going to recruit someone for the guild and I want you to come along" Percy, stunned by the offer, asks "I'm grateful, I really am. But why me? Wouldn't Levy or Macao be a better companion?" Makarov smiles and answers back, "While those two can be better companions, I wanted to talk to you privately as well."
Percy nods and walks out of the guild with Makarov. "Alright then Gramps where are we headed and who are we trying to recruit?" Makarov's eyes darken before saying "Let's talk once we make we're on the train. That way we wouldn't be interrupted." Percy nods as the two make their way to the train station and hop aboard.
Once on the train, Makarov explains Juvia's request to Percy to bring Gajeel into the guild. To his credit, Percy does not shoot down the idea, but is wary. "Master, I understand her request and it makes sense to keep an eye on him. But bringing him to the guild after everything he's done is hard to accept." Makarov, expecting Percy to be completely against the idea but knowing that he is taking this seriously, then asks "Why so lenient Percy? You know what he has done." Percy nods "I do know what it's like not knowing what to do in life. And when I was talking to the three, Ra showed me Gajeel's true face. He was twisted by Jose into being the monster that attacked our guild."
Makarov expected Percy to bring the three up and then asked "Percy, I know it's not my concern. And I know they care about you. But I want to ask what happened when you first summoned those three beasts." Percy closes his eyes and recalls the horrible event. He takes a deep breath before replying, "I had remembered a chant I saw somewhere on a paper that quickly disappeared. So when the bastard was hurting my mother, I used the chant to summon them. It was frightening. Three humongous beings were behind me and all I could feel at the time was fear. Obelisk had succeeded in calming me down. But when I saw the state of my mother, I felt a rage unlike anything I had ever felt. I ordered the three to send him to the vilest depths of hell. And when he begged for mercy, I showed none."
Makarov takes in the boy's story and cannot blame the kid. To have gone through something this traumatizing, there was no reason for the boy to want revenge. Makarov asks "Percy, should Gajeel join us, what do you plan on doing?" Percy without hesitation answers, "I would accept him into the guild." Makarov smiles and watches the terrain from the window as they approach their destination.
Ruins of Phantom Lord Guild
Gajeel sat on the ruins of what was once Phantom Lord's mess hall eating an iron gear. He reflects on what's happened so far since the guild being disbanded by the Council and regrets his part in it. Looking back this whole thing started because of Jose's jealousy. All of a sudden he hears two sets of footsteps approaching him.
"Hey there" he hears as he turns around. Looking down he sees two mages. One he instantly recognizes as Makarov Dreyar, Fairy Tail's guild mater. The other, while not famous, Gajeel recognizes as the boy who beat the crap out of Jose. Seeing the kid here softens his gaze as he turns back around. "What do you two want? Come here to gloat?" he sullenly asks.
"You're not big on manners are you?" Makarov remarks as he climbs the ruins to get closer to Gajeel. Percy coughs in his hand as he helps Makarov up before firing back "Manners don't exactly exist in Fairy Tail either Gramps" earning a glare from Makarov and a chuckle from Gajeel. Makarov stands closer to the dragon slayer then answers Gajeel's question, "Your friend Juvia is the newest member of our guild."
Hearing that Gajeel fully turns around and confronts the old man "Are you kidding me?" Percy chimes in "Nope, she joined and she actually was concerned about you after all." Gajeel throws away the gear he's been eating "Chick's got rain for brains. What is she thinking?" Makarov notices the state of the young man in front of him. He can see what isolation has done to him so far. He asks the dragon slayer "Have you thought about your next move Gajeel?" Gajeel takes a deep breath before answering "Not sure. Just waiting for opportunities."
Percy then says "Why not join Fairy Tail?" Gajeel looks at the kid incredulously, "You seriously expect me to join up with you guys. Give me a break" he states. Gajeel sulks as he whispers "You know that I was the one who hurt your friends, right?" Percy's eyes darken as he replies "I know. And I can never forgive you fully for what you did to Levy, Jet and, Droy. But I also know that you were being manipulated by Jose, who twisted the way you thought a guild should be."
Makarov pipes in "The guildhall has been repaired thanks to Percy's efforts. But while I agree with Percy over what you did to my children, I could never forgive myself if I let a young man fall into the pain of isolation and end up in darkness." Hearing those words from the two of them, Gajeel begins to shake as he stops the tears from crying. Percy comes closer to dragon slayer, "We cannot gurantee a peaceful life. But at least you won't be alone anymore. You would be part of a family that could help you move on from the pain you've felt since Metalicana disappeared." Gajeel looks at the boy in shock. How did he know about the dragon?
Makarov seeing the look in Gajeel's eyes responds "Percy knows the pain of missing a parent and he also knows about the dragons who have disappeared. So Gajeel will you walk the path that leads out of the shadows with us?" he asks as he holds his hand out. Gajeel ponders his options before shaking the old man's hand, prompting Percy to put his hand on top of Gajeel's. "Then welcome to Fairy Tail, Gajeel RedFox."
There you have it folks. Juvia and Gajeel are members of Fairy Tail. Now the next arc will not be something from the Fairy Tail anime as the Battle of Fairy Tail will not be happening. But something bad will happen to Percy, causing Mirajane to lose it.
Next Time: Erza's team returns and sinister forces plot against Fairy Tail.